Road commissioners cool to spending more on lobbying

MADISON TWP. — A proposal for county road commissions to spend more on lobbying in Lansing next year received a cool reception from Lenawee County’s road commissioners.

County road commissions are being asked to vote next month on a proposal from the County Road Association of Michigan for an additional $1,000 assessment to increase lobbying efforts.

The CRAM proposal is aimed at having counties included in any state revenue increases Gov. Rick Snyder might pursue for roads, said Scott Merillat, Lenawee County Road Commission managing director.

“The concern is the governor will push through a gas tax hike and all the money will go to state highways,” Merillat told the board at its Dec. 20 meeting.

“We seem to get little to nothing done,” said road commissioner Robert Emery.There is no longer any interest in reaching compromises in the Legislature, Emery said. He said he talks frequently with state Sen. Bruce Caswell, R-Pittsford, and state Rep. Nancy Jenkins, R-Clayton. They listen politely to explanations for why more money is needed to maintain roads, he said, but continue to oppose any funding increase.

“I keep trying, like the steer in the field,” Emery said.

“Lobbyists don’t make changes. Elections get changes made,” he said.

CRAM endorsed candidates in most of the state representative districts before the November election, but not in the race between Jenkins and Democrat Jim Berryman for the 56th District in Lenawee County.

“Michigan’s transportation infrastructure is in crisis,” County Road Association director John Niemela said in announcing the endorsements before the election.

“Our state needs leaders who understand how vital the local road and bridge network is to Michigan’s economy and to our quality of life. Michigan residents rely on the local road and bridge network to carry goods to market and their children to school, to ensure emergency vehicles reach their destinations and to take them through the activities of daily life,” Niemela said.

Board chairman Stanley Wilson put off a vote on the CRAM proposal until January. A decision was requested by Jan. 28.

The board is to meet Jan. 3 and 17, according to a 2013 meeting schedule it approved.

Meetings are to be at 9 a.m. in the road commission headquarters on Treat Road the first and third Thursday of each month, with three exceptions. The March 7 meeting was moved to March 8 due to a CRAM conference. The July 4 meeting was canceled due to the holiday. And the Sept. 5 meeting was moved up to Aug. 29 due to a regional county road commission conference.